Minnie Bruce Pratt, an acclaimed poet, essayist, and activist who wrote, among other things, about losing custody of her children when she came out as a lesbian, died on July 4 of an aggressive brain tumor at age 76.
Lesléa Newman may be best known to readers here as the author of Heather Has Two Mommies and other children’s books. She is also, however, an award-winning poet, and her latest volume of poetry for adults is a wise and loving look at her father in the last years of his life.
My Post of the Week pick this time is a poem from a child who has a thing or two to say about unusual friendships.
Yesterday was the birthday of Audre Lorde, “black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet.” Her partner and friends gathered in tribute to this woman who remains an icon for so many. Watch Lorde’s friend, poet Sonia Sanchez, read her piece at the event.
Sometimes, a book comes along at just the right time. My mother was diagnosed with lung, bone, and brain cancer on December 23, just days after I received a copy of Lesléa Newman’s new book of poetry about her own journey through her mother’s illness and death from cancer.
With the naming of Carol Ann Duffy as the new British Poet Laureate, both Britain and the United States have lesbians holding the title. In July 2008, Kay Ryan was named by the Library of Congress as the 16th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry. Ryan and her partner Carol Adair “married twice – once at
It’s National Poetry Month, and while I dislike the idea of constraining poetry to one month (same for women’s history, black history, etc.), I see no reason not to use it as an occasion to celebrate. I’ll be doing a variety of poetry-related pieces throughout the month. Stay tuned. I’ll start with a book recommendation:
